I regard the tricks and spins in the same way. The better I am at handling the staff the less likely I am to drop it and the more options I have if I were by some strange chance to actually use it for real (the most unlikely possibility ever!).

Quote:It does enable you to change directions, switch hands, and generally intimidate and hold at bay someone who might want to get close to you.

I donít know about the rest of yíall but majorettes have never intimidated me. Seriously I just donít buy the intimidation factor. Twirling the bo or any other weapon for that matter has always seemed to me to be a shortcut to disarming myself, itís all flash and no content.

The only thing we do to acclimate ourselves to the bo is basic hand switching, flipping (keeping hands on bo...sliding), and some stuff that could basically be termed as warmups/basics for kata. Since there are no twirls in our system...we don't use it. Of course, it is a rather pragmatic system.

There is only one move I can think of in our kata that has only one hand on the bo. I think it is Sushi no kon (forgive the spelling and I might have the kata name mixed up as well). It is a one armed block, of the rear leg, in long stance. Of course, one is using one's body/frame and arm for stability. But frankly, I'd be scr*wed...because that is a really weak stance/technique with me.

I think it may be another kata you're thinking of. I've been introduced to several Matayoshi kobudo versions of Suishi no Kun and I have not been shown any one-handed movements. For that matter I have not been shown any one handed movements as part of the Matayoshi syllabus for bo.